Hope for my Future

Chapter Six

Nicole

The weekends were the hardest for me, in some ways. I got to spend all day with my Flower, but I was also stuck with Tanner the whole time. For two whole days. For someone used to a lifetime of solitude, being around two people, non-stop, in a cramped little house got to be a bit much sometimes. Even at the Ring I was kept in a tiny cage, in a tiny room, alone. I suppose they were trying to punish me for my less-than-stellar attitude, but I really didn't mind. If they really wanted to torture me, they should've shoved me in a cramped space with two other people non-stop, like what I was experiencing now.

But on my third weekend of living with them, Lily and I found something, finally, that we had in common, and it made the prospect of weekends a thousand times better.

"Do you know how to fish, Nicki?"

I paused with toast halfway to my mouth and studied my pup. Her face was open and eager, as always, but I had the feeling there was a bit riding on this one. She didn't mind that I had no idea how to do fancy hairstyles, or talk about fashion, or perform ballet steps, but from the look of her I might just fall from grace if I didn't know how to fish.

Boy, was she in for a surprise.

I leaned forward, my mouth tilting in a crooked grin, and I lightly tapped her nose.

"You know what, Flower, I do know how to fish. In fact, fishing is one of my all-time favourite things to do."

Her face lit up like a Christmas tree, and she turned to Tanner, her whole body quivering in excitement.

"Did you hear that, Daddy? Nicki loves fishing! Can you call Papa, please? We have to go today!"

"Sure, baby."

I turned to Tanner, a brow lifted, and watched his eyes glaze over in a mindlink. Arrangements were quickly made, and Lily and I gathered her fishing gear while she chattered constantly about how amazing her Papa was at fishing and how he was going to let her use a real hook when she turned four. I have to say I was relieved when she mentioned that part.

There was something infinitely terrifying about the prospect of a three-year-old playing around with a fishing hook.

Before too long, Tanner had sent us on our way. He gave me brief directions but assured me that Lily knew where to go, so I shrugged and followed the little girl who was skipping so high she was almost airborne. It only took us about ten minutes of walking down a well-worn dirt path before I heard the crystalline sounds of a rushing stream. We turned a corner, and there stood two males, arms full of fishing gear, obviously waiting for us.

"Papa! Uncle Anh!"

Lily raced forward and was scooped up by the older man. He was almost the spitting image of Tanner, with his bronzed hair and light blue eyes, though he wasn't quite as tall as his son. He still looked strong and fit, probably about mid-fifties if I had to guess. The other man, though, I was confused about. He was attractive, but looked nothing like his family. He was shorter, with a sleek, runner's body, and had black hair and very dark, almond-shaped eyes. Based on his build, skin tone, and name, I would have said he was Vietnamese.

The little group looked over in my direction as I approached, and Lily introduced them to me.

"Nicki, this is my Papa and my uncle. Papa, Uncle Anh, this is my Nicki."

My heart swelled at the way she claimed me as hers. I shook hands as they introduced themselves properly as George and Anh Rothschild, Tanner's father and brother. This family must have a thing about adoption.

"So, I hear you're fond of fishing," came George's gravelly voice.

I nodded, hyper-aware of the way that both of them were studying me. I was sure they knew who I was and had a suspicion that I was on trial today. Unfortunately, I could never be anything but, well, me.